Bicycle-lamp with bracket



(No Model.)

A. G. WILLIAMS & A. H. MEYER. BICYCLE LAMP WITH BRACKET.

Nd. 588,098. Patented Aug. 10,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

ALFRED G. l/VILLIAMS AND AUGUST H. MEYER, OF NEYVARK, NEW JERSEY.

BICYCLE-LAMP WITH BRACKET.

SZPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 588,098, dated August10, 1897.

Application filed October 24, 1896. Serial No. 609338;. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALFRED G. WILLIAMs and AUGUST I-I. MEYER, citizensof the United States, residing at Newark, county of Essex, State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Bicycle-Lamp with Bracket at Side, fully described and represented in thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthe same.

This invention relates to a bicycle-lamp having a signal-window upon therear side; and the object of the invention is to adapt suchsignal-window for application to the rear of the lamp, whether used uponthe rightor left of the bicycle-frame. \Vhere the lamp is secured uponthe axle or fork of the front wheel, it is common to fix thelamp-bracket at either the right or left side of the frame, at thepleasure of the user, and it is obvious that when the lamp is used inone position its aspect is the reverse of that in the opposite position;and unless the lens were reversible the bulls-eye would in one casestand upon the rear side of the lamp, where it'could not throw any lightupon the path before the rider.

To produce a lamp in which the lens may be used upon either side of thebody, the signal-window and the lens are in the present inventionmounted in similar holders, so that they may be secured to the bodyinterchange ably.

The lamp-body is provided with a supporting-socket at one side, and thefront and rear sides of the body are provided with the interchangeableholders carrying the lens and the reflector. The reflector is providedin the center with a bezel for a colored signalwindow, and when the lampis mounted upon the bicycle the lens is secured upon the front side ofthe body and the reflector with the signal-window upon the rear side.

The invention will be understood by reference to the annexed drawings,in.which Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the bicycle.- fork carrying thefront wheel and the lamp. Fig. 2 is an edge View of the lens and itsholder. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the lampbody; Fig. 4, an edge View ofthe reflector with signal-window; Fig. 5, aview of the lamp-body and itssocket at right angles to that taken in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an inner Viewof the reflector with the signal-window, and Fig. 7 is a cross-sectionon line 7 7 in Fig. 5.

A designates the front Wheel of the bicycle, B the axle, and O thesteering-fork.

D is the lamp-bracket secured upon the axle B, and E the lamp-socketfitted thereon and attached to the side of the lamp-body F in the usualmanner by'links E. The body, as shown in Figs. 3, 5, and 7, is formedupon the front and rear with similar collars G G, each beingformed atone side with notch H. (Shown in Fig. 5.)

The lens I, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, is secured in an annular holderJ, having a marginal head which fits outside of the collar G or G and isformed with two lugs K, adapted to fit behind the collar, as shown inFig. 7. The lens may be secured interchangeably to either the collar Gor G by hooking one of the lugs upon the back of the collar and pressingthe other through the notch H and turning such lug behind the collar byrotating the holder.

A suitable stop (shown at H in Fig. 3) is formed adjacent .to one sideof the notch H to arrest the rotation in looking the lugs upon thecollar, and such stop also serves to arrest the rotation in the oppositedirection to bring one of the lugs opposite the notch for detaching theholder.

The reflector L is shown in Figs. 4 and 7 spun integral with an annularholder J and bezel M, adapted to retain the jewel N, which serves as asignal-window upon the rear side of the lamp. The holder J is providedwithlugs K, similar to those attached to the holder J. The lens and thereflector with its jewel N are thus fitted interchangeably to the frontor rear of the lamp-body.

Intermediate to the collars G G the links E are attached to the body andsecure it to the socket E.

The bracket D is so adjusted upon the axle B as to project the lamplaterally from the bicycle-frame with the socket E at one side of thelamp-body, so that the lens may be attached to either of the collars GG, which may be at the front of the body. The body is also furnished, asshown in Figs. 3, 5, and

7, with a bezel M upon the side opposite to the socket E to support ajewel N, which forms a side light on the lamp.

Bicycle-lamps have heretofore been suspended by a fastening at the topof the chi mney or funnel, so as to expose the rear side of the lampwith a signal-window in the same, thus presenting a light toward therear of the bicycle to warn those approaching from the rear. Such methodof supporting the lamp-body exposes the lamp-bracket and its connectionswith the lamp to very great heat, as the heated gases necessarily escapetoward such connections, and the rider is thus prevented from safelyhandling the lamp for examination or removal While the burner islighted.

In the'presen-t construction the lamp is sup ported by a bracket at theside, which is thus wholly removed from the influence of the escapinghot gases,- and by projecting the lampsocket from one side of the lampthe front and rear are both unobstructed, and the-lens may be madeinterchangeable with the rear signal-wind ow and the lamp thus adaptedfor use upon either side of the bicycle.

The collars G G furnish sea-ts especially adapted to holders of theshape shown in Fig. 7, but it is immaterial how the holders and seatsare made provided the lens and the reflector having a signal-window arefitted interchangeably to the front and rear of the lamp-body. Suchlamp-bodiesare commonly stamped from sheet metal, and where the frontand rear of the body are formed with similar seats or collars Gr G thebody may be readily made symmetrical at opposite sides of the centerline, and may be thus formed in vertical halves which are identical uponthe front and rear sides of the lamp and thus shaped with greatcheapness and economy in the same dies. Such division of the bodyvertically is notshown herein, as it is described and claimed in anotherpending application. The reflector is also made with great economy byforming the holder J and bezel M in one piece of sheet metal therewith,as described above.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what is claimedherein isand rear, the holders J, J fitted interchangeably to suchcollars and provided with means for securing them thereon, and theholders being provided respectively with the lens I and with thereflector L, as and for pose set forth. h

. 3. A bicycle-lamp body provided npon the front and rear withinterchangeable holders carrying respectively a lens and a reflectorwith signal-Window, and having upon (flit side a socket for supportingit upon thebicycle-frame, and upon the opposite side a the pursinal-window, as N, as and for the ur s P P set forth.

4. A bicycle-lam p having sym metrical'b'od'y F with the similar collarsG, G upon the front and rear, the holders J, J fitted interchange ablyto such collars and provided with mom for securing them thereon, andthemm being provided respectively with the lens I and with the reflectorLhaving signal-window N, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a bicycle-lamp: having similar so! upon the front and rear ofthe-body with the lens and reflector fitted interchangeably thereto, thereflector L formed in one piece of sheet metal with the bezel M havingthe jewel N secured therein, and having means for socuring itinterchangeably upon the seats of the lamp-body, as and for the purposeset forth.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto not our hands in the presence oftwo subscribing i witnesses.

ALFRED G. WILLIAMS. AUGUST H. MEYER- Witnesses:

J. D. CLARK,

THOMAS S. CRANE.

